Effectiveness of Instrumental Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Versus Conventional Treatment on Administrative Staff for Text Neck Syndrome

Effectiveness of Instrumental Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Versus Conventional Treatment for Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Mobility on Administrative Staff for Text Neck Syndrome.

The goal of this randomize control trial is to compare two interventions to treat text neck syndrome on administrative staff. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• There is no significant difference in outcomes between instrumental assisted mobilizations vs. isometric strengthening exercises for treating text neck syndrome in office workers
• There is significant difference in outcomes between instrumental assisted mobilizations vs. isometric strengthening exercises for treating text neck syndrome in office workers.

It will compare two intervention and which work better on treating text neck syndrome.

Interventions will be applied for consecutive 4 weeks and 3 session for one week

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Text Neck Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: progressive isometric exercises; Device: Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization

Detailed Description

In this modern era, people are using smartphone, tablets, computers and other digital devices for almost 5 to 8 hours a day. This has led to noticeable musculoskeletal disorders. Text neck syndrome has increasingly prevalent across all age groups, among students, office worker, administrative workers and people with more screen time. Repetitive stress injury and posture strain leads to neck pain, stiffness, headache, shoulder tension and decrease ROM. It determines the effectiveness of instrumental assisted soft tissue mobilization vs. conventional treatment for pain, range of motion and functional mobility on administrative staff for text neck syndrome.

This study is designed as a randomized control trial involving 48 participant with text neck syndrome to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of interventions. Participants will be diagnose by consultant neurologist at DHQ sheikhupura. It will be an Assessor Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial following CONSORT Statement Guidelines. The study will be conducted for 4 weeks and 3 session per week, with data collection at baseline pre intervention and post intervention. Participants will be randomly assigned to a control and experimental group. Control group having isometric strengthening and experimental group will receive isometric strengthening followed by instrumental assisted soft tissue mobilization.

The result will help to identify evidence based treatment approach that can be clinically used

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 48
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab Province
    • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 53700
      • University of Health Sciences Lahore,Pakistan

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Participant will be diagnose by consultant neurologist at DHQ sheikhupura on the bases of following criteria :

• Workers with Text Neck Syndrome diagnosed via Forward head Posture (through measuring craniovertebral angle) <50°

  • Age group between 25-50 year, both genders, using digital gadgets like (computer, laptop and mobile) for more than 4 hours
  • Experiencing neck pain either radiating or not
  • Exhibit forward head posture habits
  • Muscle weakness and NDI score is between 5-24, NPRS score above 3 and having informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Person having history of trauma

  • Pregnant, using neck support gadgets
  • Neck surgery, cervical radiculopathy
  • Currently having fever and infection
  • Myelopathy and not informed consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: progressive isometric exercises for treatment of text neck syndrome; progressive isometric exercises will be performed by participant in control group	Other: progressive isometric exercises; Isometric cervical exercises strengthen the neck muscles by applying resistance with your hand while keeping your head completely still, with no joint movement. These exercises are generally performed in a seated or standing position with upright, relaxed shoulders; Other Names: manual therapy; progrssive isometric exercises; progressive resisted excercises
Experimental: instrumental assisted soft tissue mobilization for treatment of text neck syndrome; Experimental arm: participants will receive Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) sessions for the management of text neck syndrome.	Device: Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization; instrumental assisted soft tissue mobilization will be given by MT2 blade. It will be targeting upper trapezius, levator scapulae, splenius capitis and sternocleidomastoid muscles for text neck syndrome.; Other Names: IASTM

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Numeric Pain Rating Scale	It is simple, reliable and valid scale to measure pain intensity scale as simply asked the patient to rate their pain intensity on scale from 0-10. As 0 =no pain and 10=worst pain.The primary expected outcomes for this study will be to measure pain by using Numeric pain rating scale.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at four weeks.
Goniometer	It is non-invasive measuring tool used in clinic to measure active cervical range of motion in all direction. For Cervical flexion and extension participants will sit on chair in upright position and foot flat on floor. Fulcrum will be placed on ear canal. Stationary arm of goniometer will be align perpendicular to the floor and moving arm with the base of nares.. For lateral flexion fulcrum will be placed on spinous process of C7, stationary arm will align in the spine and moving arm aligned with head midline, reference to occipital protuberance. The patient will be asked to bend head towards shoulder without rotation. Fulcrum will be over centre of cranial aspect of head .stationary arm will align with acromial process and moving arm with the tip of nose, than participant will be instructed to rotate head to each side as far as possible. Data will be recorded in degrees .	From enrollment to treatment at four weeks.
Neck Disability Index Scale	NDI is condition specific questionnaire compromising of 10 items to assess pain and functional status which is mostly used for reporting neck pain. NDI is reliable and valid questionnaire. Patient score above 5-24 were included. This questionnaire has been designed to give us information as to how your neck pain has affected your ability to manage in everyday life.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at four week.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Health Sciences Lahore
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Dr. Hira Khalid, university of health sciences lahore pakistan

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 25, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 26, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 11, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 26, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 10, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 6, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pain; functional mobility; range of motion(ROM); tech neck/text neck syndrome; instrumental assisted soft tissue mobilization versus conventional treatment; smart phone injury; isometric technique; mechanical mobilisation; cervical overuse syndrom
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Therapeutics; Complementary Therapies; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation; Musculoskeletal Manipulations
• Other Study ID Numbers: UHS/USERC-26/SEC/96

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: individual participate data

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No